Women's Pole Vault

Is there a bigger gold medal favourite in Beijing than Yelena Isinbayeva? With two World records in her four outdoor outings this summer, the conventional wisdom clearly says, no.

With Olympic, World and European gold already on her vast resume, the wildly popular 26-year-old Russian has captured every major accolade available to her. And after a stunning 18 day stretch in July, she illustrated clearly that’s she’s on the fast track to adding another Olympic gold to her collection.

Opening her season with a 5.03m leap at Rome’s Golden Gala on 11 July to add a notch to her global standard set in 2005, Isinbayeva soundly silenced the critics who have questioned her decision to make a major revision to her style and technique over the past few season. If any critics remained, they surely hung their heads in shame after she improved it again to 5.04m in Monaco on 29 July for her 23rd World record.

As far as her dominance is concerned, very little has changed. Four years ago in Athens, Isinbayeva opened her competition at 4.70m, a height which would eventually decide the bronze medallist. While not quite as likely, it is conceivable that a similar scenario will be replicated.

American Jen Stuczynski’s continued rise this season – the American improved her national record to 4.92m at the U.S Trials in Eugene to move up to No. 2 all-time – signaled a potential threat to Isinbayeva’s dominance. But as the Russian pointed out just prior to her 2008 debut in Rome, “Remember, there are many men who jump 6m to 6.04m which brings them very close to 6.15 (outright world record). But while they are close it doesn’t mean they are ever likely to jump 6.15m.”

While her most recent attempts at 5.04m in London were well out of reach, Stuczynski nonetheless remains the best bet at the world’s second woman to break the five-metre barrier, and the most solid bet for Olympic silver. One note of caution is that she suffered back pains this season a problem which has led to her missing some competitions.

The best of the rest are primarily well-known names who have become accustomed to competing in the Russian’s long shadow. They include compatriot Svetlana Feofanova, the former World record holder and reigning Olympic silver medallist. The 28-year-old has cleared 4.75 this season.

Vaulting Poles Anna Rogowska and Monika Pyrek remain podium threats as well, the former as the Olympic bronze medallist and the latter as two-time World championships medallist. Pyrek has a 4.75m season’s best, while Rogowska has cleared 4.66m.

Notable too is the continued rise of Brazilian Fabiana Murer, a sometimes training partner of Isinbayeva, who improved the South American record to 4.80m in Sao Paulo in late June.

Others to watch include the No. 3 Russian is Yuliya Golubchikova who has cleared 4.73m this summer, a career best; and German Silke Spiegelburg, who upped her personal best to 4.70m.

But all eyes will be on Isinbayeva who, barring major catastrophe, will be aiming not only to become the young Olympic event’s first two-time winner, but to also raise the World record for the second consecutive Olympic Games. The world has come to expect little else.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF